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SMALLER GULLS AND PETRELS. ' 



OF the Gull, properly fo called, there are above twenty kinds j of 

 the Petrel three j and of the Sca-fwallow feveral. The gulls 

 may be diftinguifhed by an angular knob on the lower chapj the petrels 

 by their wanting this knob j and the fca-fwallow by their bills, which 

 are ftraight, flender, and fharp- pointed. They all, however, agree in 

 their appetites and their places of abode. 



The gull is well known in this kingdom. Is fometimes feen flow- 

 failing, hovering over rivers to" prey on fifh ; fometimes following the 

 plowman in fallow fields to pick up infedls; and, when livipg animal food 

 was abfent, has been known to eat carrion, and whatever elfe offered, 

 as if it were the vulture of the aquatic tribes. Round our boldell 

 rockiefl fhores they appear in the greateft abundance ; there the gull 

 breeds and brings up its young j and there millions are heard fcreaming 

 with difcordant notes for months together. The rocks offer them a re- 

 treat for their young, the fea a fupply of food, and renders the place 

 inaccelTible from below. Thefe are the fituations to which fea-fowl 

 chiefly refort, and bring up their young. Thefe birds, like all of the 

 rapacious kind, lay but few eggs ; and hence, in many places, their 

 number is daily feen to diminifh : lay from one egg to three, in a ncft 

 formed of long grafs and fea- weed. Moft are fiiliy-tafted, with black 

 ftringy flefh j yet the young ones are better food : and thefe, with feve- 

 ral other birds of the penguin kind, the poor inhabitants of our northern 

 iflands make their food. 



THE FRIGAT E-B I R D 



RECEIVES his name from the fwiftnefs and manner of his flight. 

 In fad, of all fea-birds, he has the moft powerful and durable 

 flight, and extends his courfe to greater diftances than any other bird. 

 His wings are prodigioufly long, and his motion fmooth j he feems to 

 fwim in the air, till the inftant his prey appears, then he darts like 

 lightning upon it. When the iky is tempeftuous, he rifes above the 



clouds. 



